There's no word in the Western
press, but Aljazeera
reports that the US and Israel are conducting tests
of the high altitude missile defense system that the US
has provided to Israel.

The anti-missile system is useless
against the short range rockets of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Its purpose is to protect Israel from longer range
Iranian missiles.

Everyone understands that Iran
would not attack Israel except in retaliation. It is
logical to conclude that the missile defense system
signals an upcoming Israeli attack on Iran.

If the US were opposed to an
Israeli attack on Iran, the US would not provide Israel
with protection against retaliation and would not engage
in war games with Israel to test the system. The best
way to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran is to leave
Israel open to retaliation.

This decision by the United States
government is irresponsible in the extreme. It enables
Israel to spread aggression in the Middle East. By
signaling an attack, it would encourage a less cautious
country than Iran to strike first before the Israeli
missile defense system is operative.

The joint US-Israeli war games
involving 2000 troops from the US European Command, the
Israeli Army, and 17 US Navy ships is further indication
to the world that no matter what crimes the Israelis
commit, the US will protect Israel from being held
accountable.